The Sonowal Kachari community of two villages at Naharkatia in Assam’s Dibrugarh district has lighted 4,444 earthen lamps to remember the millions of people who lost their lives to Covid-19.
The Na-Khotiya Sonowal and Mathawoni villages were on Saturday lit with thousands of earthen lamps on both sides of the roads as part of a special prayer service.
A total of 774 families in both the villages offered their tributes to those who lost their battle to the virus .
“Many people have lost their near and dear ones in the Covid-19 pandemic and many of them could not even light an earthen lamp in their memory,” said Gokul Bora, Dibrugarh district president of Sonowal Kachari Jatiya Parishad
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“Today we lit earthen lamps and prayed for the departed and the well being of their families,” he said.
Old and young of the two villages offered their prayers to Khring-Khring Baitho, the chief deity of the Sonowal Kachari community by maintaining Covid-19 protocols.
The deity represents the four elements – earth, water, air, space – for the safety of mankind.
The long rows of burning earthen lamps, which lit up the entire road in the backdrop of the dark evening was a treat to the eyes.
Chief executive member of Sonowal Kachari Autonomous Council, Dipuranjan Makrari began the prayer service by lighting a lamp at the Khring-Khring Baitho temple premises at Na-Khotiya Sonowal gaon.
“We offered our prayers to the departed souls by lighting 4,444 earthen. People must not lower their guards against Covid-19,” said Makrari
“Mankind will finally win this battle against Covid-19 through patience and discipline,” he said.